People’s Liberation Army troops patrol an island in the South China Sea. PLA Photo

Chinese officials took a rhetorical hard line this week calling U.S. military actions in the South China Sea the “greatest threat” to stability in the region and vowed to increase its own military presence in the region, according to a Wednesday statement from the Chinese military. Read More →

USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110) transits the Philippine Sea on March 30, 2016, US Navy Photo

A U.S. guided missile destroyer came within 12 nautical miles of a contested Chinese artificial island in the Spratly Island chain in the South China Sea on Tuesday, U.S. officials told USNI News on Tuesday morning. Read More →

THE PENTAGON – The evidence against a U.S. Navy officer accused of passing classified information to foreign agents was the result – in part — of a government sting involving a Mandarin speaking FBI informant, according to an audio recording of an April 8 Article 32 hearing played for reporters on Thursday. Read More →

USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) steams at dusk in the South China Sea on April 25, 2016. US Navy Photo

Last week’s denial of a port visit to Hong Kong by the John C. Stennis carrier strike group isn’t the first time U.S. ships have been turned away from the South China Sea port by Chinese authorities for political reasons. Read More →

This story has been updated with additional comments from Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lin’s family.

The defense team and family of the U.S. Navy officer accused of giving secrets to China and Taiwan are declaring his innocence and don’t want his case to go to court martial, according to a Monday statement provided to USNI News. Read More →

THE PENTAGON — The chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee again criticized Defense Secretary Ash Carter for a reluctance to detail U.S. presence operations in the South China Sea during a Thursday Senate hearing. Read More →

Investigators with the Navy have submitted their preliminary report and recommendation for prosecution on accusations that a U.S. Navy officer passed secrets to China and Taiwan, service officials told USNI News on Wednesday. Read More →